Country: Italy

One of the greatest ever minds, invented models that proved workable 3-500 years later

2

Galileo Galilei

1564-1642ItalyAstronomy, Physics, Inventions

performed fundamental observations, experiments, and mathematical analyses in astronomy and physics; discovered mountains and craters on the moon, the phases of Venus, and the four largest satellites of Jupiter: Io, Europa, Callisto, and Ganymede

3

Enrico Fermi

1901-1954ItalyPhysics, Chemistry

performed experiments leading to first self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction; developed a theory of beta decay that introduced the weak interaction; derived the statistical properties of gases that obey the Pauli exclusion principle

4

Alessandro Volta

1745-1827ItalyPhysics, Chemistry

pioneer in study of electricity; invented the first electric battery

5

Lucretius

-99-55ItalyPhilosophy

discover that everything in this universe, ranging from planets and stars to mountains, decay

6

Guglielmo Marconi

1874-1937ItalyPhysics

invented the first practical system of wireless telegraphy

7

Luigi Galvani

1737-1798ItalyPhysics

pioneer of bioelectricity

8

Amadeo Avogadro

1776-1856ItalyPhysics, Chemistry

developed hypothesis that all gases at same volume, pressure, and temperature contain same number of atoms

9

John Babtist Riccioli

1598-1671ItalyAstronomy

made telescopic lunar studies and published detailed lunar maps in which he introduced much nomenclature for lunar objects; discovered the first double star (Mizar)

10

Thomas Aquinas

1225-1274ItalyPhilosophy

most influential medieval thinkers of Scholasticism and the father of the Thomistic school of theology